Saturday, October 24, 2009

Ian Stevenson And Reincarnation

The only after-life theory that has attracted any scientific attention and support is reincarnation, usually called rebirth by Buddhists. And the only accredited scientist who has studied the phenomena was Prof Ian Stevenson (1918-2007) who was head of the Division of Perceptual Studies at the University of Virginia. I met Stevenson during his several visits to Sri Lanka in the 70’s and 80’s and on one occasion asked him if he believed in reincarnation. He said he did but being a scientist and given the controversial nature of his research he kept his opinion to himself. I asked him if his findings could be explained in some other way and he said this. They could be explained as fraud but that he had done everything possible to cancel this out. It could be telepathy, where one person is unknowingly picking up someone else’s experience and mistaking it for their own memory. And it may be that it is eventually discovered that some memories are transmitted genetically and we are able to ‘remember’ fragments of our grandparent’s or great grandparent’s memories.

Stevenson’s research was published in peer-reviewed academic journals but was largely ignored by the scientific community. Philosopher Paul Edwards has written a detailed critique of his research called Reincarnation: A Critical Examination and Ian Wilson’s Mind Out of Time? The Claims of Reincarnation, also contains an in-depth criticism of the research. Wilson also hints that Stevenson was being dishonest, without saying why he thinks so. Nonetheless, Wilson’s book contains some very interesting research and it well worth reading. It’s enough to make anyone with an intelligent interest in reincarnation very cautious of much of the ‘evidence’ presented in its favor of reincarnation and I used to recommend this book to people. But after Wilson has converted to Catholicism and became a fervent believer in the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin we are justified in not just doubting his judgment and his objectivity but even his sanity.

However, Ian Stevenson has his supporters too. One of the most eminent and articulate of these is Prof. Robert Almeder of the Dept of Philosophy Georgia State University. You can listen to Prof. Almerder’s assessment of Stevenson’s research on reincarnation at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZhMDU9GcVg

In his book explaining why he converted from Buddhism to Catholicism Williams says ‘I never really gave up Buddhism. I just stopped running away from God’ (I’m quoting him from memory). He also says his friends shook their heads when he announced his conversion and said they thought he was mad. I’ll keep my opinion about his decision to myself. Paul Griffith is a convert from Anglicism to Catholicism and has never been a Buddhist. He is a scholar of Buddhism which is different from being a Buddhist.

Thank you for this article; I really enjoy your blog. I met you at Tibet Books in Thamel, Kathmandu before you made your trip to Mt. Kailash. I was the fellow with glasses and dark hair in the company of a Western monk (Tibetan tradition). I'm glad you made it back safely!

Dear James,Good to hear from you. Our pilgrimage to Mt Kailash was exhausting but very rewarding. The details will be on my blog during November. Dear Rahula,Whether belief in a god is incompatible with Dhamma depends which god one believes in. The god of the Abraham faiths requires, nay demands, total allegiance and thus, I would say, belief in such a deity would require a rejection of Dhamma. As for more open-minded, less ‘jealous’ gods like Sat Nam of the Sikhs, Siva and most other Hindu gods, Ahura Mazda, Plato’s ‘The One’, and the ‘real’ god if he exists, the situation might be different.

If God is understood as the Unconditioned, Unoriginated, Unborn, Uncreated (terms borrowed from a saying by Gotama Buddha according to a Buddhist scripture), then the god of Jesus could be compatible with the core of Buddhist worldview (not-self, emptiness, impermanence). The god of Jesus could be seen as "someone" who looks at the heart/character of a person and not the accuracy of one's beliefs (i.e. the UnConditioned, the Ground of Being, does not judge base on a person's mind but on a person's heart).

Thinker presents Jesus' God as something external to human heart/character but that Unborn aspect in Buddhism is Not separated from the true human being. And that, I think, is the reason why Buddha and Jesus in Thomas Gospel do not call that aspect - GOD. Living Father in that Gospel is never called God or Heavenly Father! And there is no need to have faith in Him - people should only know themselves. But this not the view of Christian Church, and its concept of God does not correspond to Buddhist Unborn.

Dear Rahula,I read Williams ’book (The Unexpected Way, 2002) when it came out with the intention of writing a review of it. In the end I decided that it wasn’t worth it. Williams uses most of his book to tell the reader how much he loves God and the Church. What can you say about that! He doesn’t really highlight anything wrong with Dhamma, not in any meaningful way anyway. As far as I know no one else has bothered to review it either.

I really like your blog. Well, I have no question nor opinion for the discussion, but want to share with all of you a blogger that contain some of article from Venerable Dhammika and some of Video from you youtube. I also want to ask all of you, especially Venerable Dhammika what is your opinion or what do you think toward the video clip name Where was Jesus for 18 years? and The Hidden Story of Jesusfrom the following blog as attached below:http://jesustobuddha.blogspot.com/

We were fortunate to be able to hear a lecture by Dr. Erlendur Haraldsson, of the Department of Psychology, of the University of Iceland several years ago. His research is similar to Stevenson's and very impressive. His review of Stevenson's great works --Reincarnation and Biology and Where Reincarnation and Biology Intersect is awesome! Sorry the html can't be accepted but it should be easy to look up. Since replication of results is what science requires, Haraldsson's work is important. He made the point in the talk that the most compelling research cases were those in cultures that didn't predispose to rebirth or reincarnation; the most interesting field work he described was within the Druze of Lebanon -- a fascinating case!

You can recall your past life if you can meditate up to at least the First Jhana stage, using the Anapanasati method. It’s not easy and you need to practise meditation conscientiously. If interested, a good text “Basic Meditation” by Ajahn Brahmavamso is available online.The link on this Stevenson post leads to yet another rebirth sceptic on youtube. It is futile for scientists and philosophers to speculate and debate over reincarnation for decades when they can find out for themselves through correct meditation.

According to His Holiness Maharaj Sahab (1861-1907), the 3rd Spiritual Head of Radha Soami Faith, “during satyayuga,………..in consequence of their greater spirituality and of the high purity of their heart, had no difficulty in getting access at times into the astral planes and holding communion with the departed spirits.” (Source: Discourses on Radhasoami Faith). Greater Spirituality as mentioned above is linked to the size of pineal gland. In Satyauga pineal gland was highly developed but in Kaliyuga the pineal gland is a rudimentary (undeveloped) organ. This is downward evolution of humankind. We should ascertain the period taken from highly developed pineal gland to undeveloped pineal gland. This will determine the Age of Human Existence on this Earth Planet. Other arguments, as I think, will not help much.In Bhagavad-Gita Lord SriKrishna says to Arjuna:“I taught this immortal Yoga to Vivasvan (sun-god), Vivasvan conveyed it to Manu(his son), and Manu imparted it to (his son) Iksvaku. Thus transmitted to succession from father to son, Arjuna, this Yoga remained known to the Rajarisis (royal sages). It has however long since disappeared from this earth. The same ancient Yoga has this day been imparted to you by Me, because you are My devotee and friend, and also because this is a supreme secret”.At this Arjuna said: You are of recent origin while the birth of Vivasvan dates back to remote antiquity. How, then, I am to believe that you taught this Yoga at the beginning of creation? Lord SriKrishna said: Arjuna, you and I have passed through many births. I remember them all, you do not remember.1. Radha Soami Faith was founded by His Holiness Param Purush Puran Dhani Huzur Soamiji Maharaj on the prayer of His Holiness Huzur Maharaj who later on became second Spiritual Head of Radha Soami Faith. The prime object of the Radha Soami Faith is the emancipation of all Jeevas (Souls) i.e. to take the entire force of consciousness to its original abode. There is a tradition of succession of Gurus or Spiritual Adepts in Radha Soami Faith. I am one of them as is evident from the following facts or ….“My most Revered Guru of my previous life His Holiness Maharaj Sahab, 3rd Spiritual Head of Radhasoami Faith had revealed this secret to me during trance like state.HE told me, “Tum Sarkar Sahab Ho” (You are Sarkar Sahab). Sarkar Sahab was one of the most beloved disciple of His Holiness Maharj Sahab. Sarkar Sahab later on became Fourth Spiritual Head of Radhasoami Faith.Since I don’t have any direct realization of it so I can not claim the extent of its correctness. But it seems to be correct. During my previous birth I wanted to sing the song of ‘Infinite’ (Agam Geet yeh gawan chahoon tumhri mauj nihara, mauj hoi to satguru soami karoon supanth vichara) but I could not do so then since I had to leave the mortal frame at a very early age. But through the unbounded Grace and Mercy of my most Revered Guru that desire of my past birth is being fulfilled now.”

" Nonetheless, Wilson’s book contains some very interesting research and it well worth reading. It’s enough to make anyone with an intelligent interest in reincarnation very cautious of much of the ‘evidence’ presented in its favor of reincarnation and I used to recommend this book to people " -

Well you seem to have an inherent bias against reincarnation. May I presume , it comes directly from Buddha's teaching that - " There is no SELF which is Reborn. Only Sankharas are Reborn "

About Me

I am not the 5th or 9th reincarnation of a great lama, I have not recived any empowerments or initiations, I am not the holder of any lineage, I am yet to attain any of the jhanas, I am not a widely respected teacher, I am not a stream enterer (at least I don't feel like one)and I do not have many disciples. Nontheless, you may find some of my observations and musings interesting. I have been a Buddhist monk for 32 years and am the spiritual advisor to the Buddha Dhamma Mandala Society in Singapore.